Alex Argyros — Vice-Chair

Alex Argyros received his B.A. from Columbia College and his M.A. and Ph.d. from Cornell University. He has taught literature and philosophy at Mary Baldwin College, Lindenwood College, Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Dallas, where he served as full professor of literary studies. A little more than a year ago, Alex's wife, Gretchen, received an offer to work for a law firm in Austin. Alex and Gretchen decided to fulfill a long-standing dream and move to this beautiful, lively, and quirky city. Although Alex no longer teaches at UT-D, he continues to work with graduate students. The move to Austin has been a huge success, in large part because of the supportive and stimulating environment his daughter, Persephone, has found at The Girls' School of Austin. Alex is deeply committed to the future of this unique institution and feels honored to serve the GSA by sitting on its Board of Trustees.

Ray Blue

Originally from North Carolina, Ray moved to Austin in December of 2000 and immediately decided he was home. Currently serving as Senior Development Director at Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation, Ray has over fifteen years of front-line experience in fundraising, strategic planning, and volunteer management. Before joining Dell Children's Foundation, Ray served as vice president of development at United Way Capital Area. He holds a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Masters in Divinity from Emory University. Away from the office, you will either find him working in the yard with his wife Sally and daughter Ruby, picking the guitar, collecting records, or running.

Jason Boulette

Jason Boulette is a labor, employment, and corporate immigration attorney, and his wife Megan is a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Texas. Jason received his law degree with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1997 and bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Virginia in 1994. Jason grew up in Houston, Texas, but has called Austin home since 1994. (His wife Megan is one of those hard-to-find Austin natives.) Jason and his firm are strong supporters of the arts community in Austin, working closely with Ballet Austin, the Austin Lyric Opera, the Long Center, and the Austin Theater Alliance.

Bronson Dorsey

Bronson Dorsey is a facilities executive with over 30 years experience managing facilities and related construction projects for Fortune 50 corporations, the healthcare industry, and higher education institutions. From 2005-2009, Bronson was Global Facilities Development Manager for Dell, Inc, and previously, he was the Associate Vice-President, Facilities & Operations, for Austin Community College. Bronson attended Oklahoma State University's Architecture program from 1963-1966, and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974. Bronson has been married for 35 years, and has two sons, ages 28 and 19. Bronson has served on the Board of Directors for the Green Acres School, on the Program Committee for Leadership Austin, and as Vice Chairman for the Austin Arts Commission.

Susie Kelly — Secretary

Susie Kelly is currently on the board of EMPACT Africa a non-profit that trains leaders in sub-Saharan Africa to end the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS. Susie also serves on the board of the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation and on the board of Westlake Hyline Parents Association for the WHS dance team. Susie has over twenty years experience in broadcast journalism and corporate communications; some of her employers have been American Airlines, KDFW-TV, and WBNS-TV. She has also operated a freelance communications business: Susie Kelly Communications. Susie is married to Patrick Kelly and they have two daughters—both are GSA graduates.

Carolyn Miller — Chair

Carolyn Miller is a native of Chattanooga, TN. A graduate of Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN, Carolyn received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her master's degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education After her 1964 graduation from the University of Tennessee she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked on the Barry Goldwater Presidential campaign. Following that she was on the staff of Representative Howard H. Callaway and later on the staff of Senator Howard Baker. She has two daughters, one a graduate of Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA and the other a graduate of Garrison Forest School, Baltimore, MD. Her hobbies include golf, cooking, walking, traveling and volunteer community outreach.

With her strong people skills and administrative talents, she has devoted her career to the field of education, seeking to enrich the school experience for both students and faculty.
Carolyn was Vice-President of The Education Group until December, 2007. As the administrative placement coordinator, Carolyn handled search activities for The Education Group. Carolyn's background includes work with Independent Educational Services (IES) where, from 1997 through the summer of 2002, she served as Executive Vice-President. As Planning Coordinator at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Bethesda, MD, Carolyn was instrumental in its start up activities. Following St. Andrew's she was appointed Director of Activities and Facilities at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC. In 1984, she joined St. Andrew's-Sewanee School in Sewanee, Tennessee as Director of Admissions. When Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, embarked on its plan for coeducation in 1990, Carolyn was called upon to coordinate the transition of girls into the school, where she then served for 7 years as Assistant Head for Student Life.

Suzanne Quinn

A native Texan, Suzanne Quinn moved to Austin in 1992 for graduate school and never left. The same could be said for her first visit to the GSA campus, when she discovered the perfect home for her daughter Lilly, a third grader. She has found many excuses to spend time on campus, from serving on the gala committee to participating in campus cleanups, making food for every occasion and even substitute teaching when needed!

Suzanne's career has focused on start-up business ventures and non profit management. She has owned live music venues in Austin and San Antonio, headed the marketing and sponsorship program for the SXSW Film Festival & Conference, and launched Austin Studios, a 20-acre film production facility at the old Austin airport. She has also served as Executive Director of Austin Music Foundation, and currently serves on the AMF board. Suzanne received a B.A. in Spanish from Davidson College and an MBA and M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Melissa Schenker

Melissa Schenker is the founder of Work/Life, a consulting practice that focuses on creating satisfying work situations for individuals, helping businesses overcome barriers to growth, and facilitating group problem solving and strategic planning. Melissa started Work/Life in 1996. Previously, she worked as an internal management consultant for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, as a management consultant for Deloitte & Touche, and in a variety of capacities in city government in Austin and NYC. Melissa holds an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. Melissa has served on several nonprofit boards and as President of Family Connections, an Austin-based organization whose mission is to support the development of young children through working with the adults in their lives. Melissa is the mother of a middle school student, Des, at The Girls' School of Austin.

Lisa Schmitt — Head of School

In addition to administrative positions as an academic dean, Ms. Schmitt has taught math and physics for over 17 years. Prior to GSA, she was Dean of Curriculum at the Emma Willard School, a private girls' school in New York. Ms. Schmitt earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Masters of Arts in Teaching in science education from Boston University. She served in the U.S. Air Force as a research physicist specializing in space physics. Ms. Schmitt has a strong interest in interdisciplinary math and science education and in the use of technology to advance teaching and learning. She has published in Science Teacher and has lectured at numerous national and international conferences on the subject of interdisciplinary math and science education. She has received numerous awards for her research and teaching, including the Rubendahl Faculty Fellowship and a Tandy Technology award for integrating technology into interdisciplinary algebra-physics classes at Northfield Mount Hermon. While at Emma Willard, she developed a partnership project with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to encourage students to pursue math and science. She has taught in the Expanding Your Horizons program for middle-school girls and served on the board of the Rubin Community Fund in Troy, New York.

Keith Smith — Treasurer

Keith is a private mortgage banker with Wells Fargo Bank. He has called Austin home since graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, and has been a West Lake Hills resident since 2002. He lives with his wife Paige, daughter Vivian, (a third grader at The Girls' School of Austin), and son Oliver. Upon receiving his college degree, Mr. Smith began his career in the commercial loan officer training program with American National Bank in Austin. He held various titles in commercial banking for twenty years. In 2001, Mr. Smith changed careers within Wells Fargo Bank, moving from the Regional Commercial Banking Office to the Private Mortgage Group, where he focuses on the jumbo and super-jumbo residential mortgage market. Mr. Smith has held a variety of volunteer positions. He has held all of the officer positions at Rotary Clubs (South Austin and West Lake), including President. He is a founder and board member of Mother Maryam Foundation for Humanitarian Development, Inc., a non-profit corporation involved in building infrastructure in Africa to improve health and quality of life. The foundations' projects include raising funds to build a water supply system and a medical clinic in The Sudan.

Walter Williams

Walter is a commercial litigation and trial attorney. After receiving his BA in English Literature from UT Austin and his law degree from the St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, he worked for several years in the Austin office of Lynch, Chappell, Allday and Alsup before opening his own shop, Modessett Williams, PLLC, in 1991.

Walter is a native Texan with deep Texan roots: his great grandfather, Ross Sterling, was the governor of Texas from 1931-1933. After growing up in Houston, Walter attended the Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire and St. Mark's School in Massachusetts for middle school and high school, and is, therefore, no stranger to private schools. Walter is an enthusiastic advocate of scholastic athletics. He played lacrosse in high school and college and was assistant coach for the UT lacrosse team. He currently serves on the board of the UT Men's Lacrosse Alumni Association. Walter is married to Martha Williams and their two daughters, in first and fourth grades, both attend the Girls' School of Austin.